A workpiece processing system having, a first assembly for performing at least
a first processing operation on a workpiece at a first location and having a frame,
a nesting assembly, a bolster assembly upon which a workpiece can be supported
at the first processing location, and a transfer assembly. The bolster assembly
is repositionable relative to the frame by movement along a first path between
first and second positions.
The transfer assembly is capable of moving a workpiece to/from the first processing
location along a second path from/to the nesting assembly. The nesting assembly
has first and second workpiece support elements, each with a length. The first
and second workpiece support elements are each repositionable relative to the bolster
assembly between a) an operating orientation wherein the lengths of the first and
second workpiece support elements project generally in the direction of the second
path, and b) a stored orientation. The first and second workpiece support elements
have a lesser projection along the second path with the first and second workpiece
support elements in their stored orientation than with the first and second workpiece
support elements in their operating orientation. At least one of the first and
second workpiece support elements is repositionable relative to the bolster assembly
to a pre-storage position wherein the first and second workpiece support elements
do not interfere with each other as the other of the first and second workpiece
support elements is changed from its operating orientation into its stored orientation.